Top Lit Exam Tips
What do you recommend?
We would like you to share what you know about what to do (and what not to do)in the Literature exam. You can draw upon your teacher's advice, the articles you have been given in class, the article linked this blog or other relevant sources.
An example of what we are after:
A common pitfall for students is that they ignore or pay scant attention to the passages provided. As a result their responses are too general. You need to engage closely with the passages and use them as a basis to discuss the text as a whole.
Your turn...
15 comments:
Taken from the 2009 VCAA assessment report: Higher scoring responses commented on the views and values of the author as part of their general discussion and analysis of the text, whereas weaker responses tended to add a paragraph, often at the end of the essay, in an attempt to meet this requirement.
Prepare for the exam with daily reading and writing.
In preparation for the exam, reread the text and key passages and think of other passages that might complement the original ones.
I've learnt that we should learn the write constantly. Under a time contraint, we should use every minute. Wooo exams
From Jess
A tip to do well in the exams is to make sure that you do not leave any significant points (author's views and values) to the end. Be sure to incorporate them within the body of the essay so as to create a strong response.
Practice writing under time pressure. Try to write something everyday - if not a full essay, then notes on characters or techniques. Furthermore, develop your interpretation of the text, you need to be able to demonstrate a plausable and relevant interpretation, which is supported by detailed evidence of close reading.
*I've learnt that we should write constantly. Under a time constraint, we should use every minute. -From Jess
From reading articles in class, I've learnt that the Literature exam is the opportunity to enjoy putting your interpretation of a text onto paper, with of course, textual evidence to support it. Another exam tip I've learnt from an article in class is to be selective, and not attempt to discuss every minute detail on the three passages, probably because it's physically impossible.
If you get stuck during the exam, it is important that you don't give up or spend too long worrying; even if you don't think your writing is anything substantial, a full essay of rubbish is better than no essay at all.
An element of the exam that students need to pay much attention to is the fact that they must maintain a level of sophistication throughout their response.
Embed quotations from the passages provided into your sentences so as to establish a flowing and evidenced interpretation. Make references to multiple passages within discussion of a single idea in order to draw effective links between passages. Ensure expressive and eloquent language is used in your response.
It is important to be constantly reading over the texts and writing as many practice essays as possible
Read the text multiple times to ensure that you are familiar with key themes and styles.
Natasha's comment:
- Learn sophisticated vocabulary and practice using these words in sentences that relate to the texts we have studied.
- Read the selected texts several times to gain a thorough understanding of its views and values.
- Develop your own individual intepretation of the text
Bri's comment:
It is very important to acknowledge the audience for whom you are writing the piece.
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